AI-powered stethoscope able to detect heart conditions

The stethoscope is typically one of the first medical devices that comes to mind when thinking about medical care. It's use in healthcare spans centuries, since 1816 when Rene Laennec first used the tool to amplify internal body sounds. Despite the major technological advancements that have occurred since then, the general design of the stethoscope has remained relatively constant and it continues to be used by doctors around the world on a daily basis. However, a team from Imperial College London (ICL) have attempted to reimagine the stethoscope altogether, by leveraging AI to extend its functionality to more than just a listening device. Like the original the stethoscope developed by ICL is a device placed on the patients heart which connect to an ear piece, however this AI-powered stethoscope can take an ECG recording of the heart, record the sound of flowing blood, and detect the presence of atrial fibrillation. Astonishingly, an analysis and result for potential heart conditions can be completed within just 15 seconds. A recent study which presented the results of the device's use in medical practices in England showed that the AI stethoscope was approximately 3.5 times more likely to detect cases of atrial fibrilation and 2 times more likely to detect heart valve disease. A lot of heart related health issues are often diagnosed when it is too late, however, this device changes what could be possible for the future detection of heart issues, enabling treatment to start earlier potentially savings many lives. It should be noted that while there were more instances of false positives when the AI stethoscope was used by doctors, potentially causing some unnecessary distress, this innovation has significantly advanced our ability to detect heart disease early and is just one step towards a healthier future driven by innovation in AI.